Dustproof device for ball screw apparatus

Abstract

A ball screw device includes an elongated screw shaft and a ball nut having helical grooves for receiving ball bearing members, a housing is attached to the ball nut and includes a bore for receiving the screw shaft, and includes one or more slots communicative with the bore of the housing, and one or more wiper members are changeably engaged into the slots of the housing and include a wiper element engaged into the bore of the housing for engaging into the groove of the screw shaft and for removing or wiping off the dirt from the helical groove of the screw shaft and for preventing the ball nut and the screw shaft from being damaged by the dirt.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a ball screw apparatus, and more particularly to a ball screw apparatus including a dust cap or dustproof device easily and readily attached to the ball nut for suitably shielding the side or end portions of the ball nut and for preventing the dust or dirt from entering into the space between the ball nut and the screw shaft.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]Typical ball screw apparatuses or devices comprise two movable members, such as a ball nut and a screw shaft rotatably engaged with each other and rotatable or movable relative to each other, and a number of ball bearing elements disposed between the two movable members for facilitating the sliding or rotational movement between the two movable members.[0005]For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,278,333 to Kato et al. discloses one of the typical ball screw devices comprising a ball nut pivotally or rotatably coupled onto or threaded...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ball screw apparatus including a dust cap or dustproof device easily and readily attached to the ball nut for suitably shielding the side or end portions of the ball nut and for preventing dust or dirt from entering into the space between the ball nut and the screw shaft.

[0012]The slot of the housing is preferably a radially extended slot for suitably engaging into the helical threaded portions or grooves of the screw shaft and for suitably wiping off the dust or dirt that is engaged into or that enters into the helical threaded portions or grooves of the screw shaft.

Problems solved by technology

However, the contact or engagement between the seal rings and the ball nut and the screw shaft may increase the friction between the ball nut and the screw shaft, and the seal rings may be easily worn out after use, and the seal rings may not be easily and quickly replaced with the new ones when the seal rings have been worn out or damaged.

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